Animal-trap.



E. L NEUNEKER;

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.21,'1917.

1,244,069., Patented 06$. 23,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. L. NEUNEKER.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 2h I91?- 1,244,G69g Patented 001;. 23,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR R EST. L; NnnNEKER,--.or NEAnBUsHn-E L, ILLINOIS.

' ANIMAL-TRAP.

To alljwhomit mdyroneerwa Beit-,,known that I, ERNEST..IJ. NEUN-- EKER51L citizen; ofv thellnited States, residing near BR5111161151111 the county of TlVICDOIlOUgh and State of Illinois, have invented aznewrand usefulazAnimal-Trap,.of which the :following is a specification. f My invention relates to that general class of traps. which are selfsactuated and selfsetting, and in the body of which a number of caught" animals may be held untlliilt lS' desired to release them.

The principal end and object of the invention is to generally improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of traps of this nature.

The invention consists, substantially, in the improvements hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a preferred embodiment of my invention, the housinglid being raised to show the tripping-mechanism;

Fig. 2, a transverse section taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a front elevation, partly broken away; and

Fig. 4, a sectional detail hereinafter more fully described.

Coming now to a detailed description of the parts and designating the parts each by a reference numeral, 2 indicates a holder or compartment comprising a bottom 3, top 4, front 5, back 6, and ends 7, 7, all suitably secured together by frame-pieces as shown.

The top is cut away as shown at 8 to form an opening or way in which the trip-wheel may operate. Said wheel consists preferably of a plurality of radially arranged platforms 9 the inner edge of each of which is fixed to a shaft 10 rotatably mounted in bearings 11, 11' in the top 4. Fixed on one end of said shaft is a pin-wheel 12 which meshes with and is driven by a spurwheel 13 which is connected with one end of a motor-spring 14 which actuates it.

The inner end of the spring is connected with the key-shaft 15 of the motor. 16 indicates a ratchet wheel fixed on said shaft 15, and 17 denotes a pawl fulcrumed on the spurwheel. The motor is held in a motorbox 18.

In order that the trapped rats may be released I provide a door 19 hinged to the bottom 3 at 20. 21 denotes a pin whereby the door may be secured to the bottom.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Fulcrumed on theunormally upperface ofoeach; blade 1 or i platform. 9, preferably by 1 staples 22,..is tlwcmiddle arm 23 :of a trip: ping andolocking lever 24. The-inner pore: 1310nn23' of; this lever. is bent upward and then reaiward to engage the free endz ofa a blade-sprin 535 the other endof which "seats and f1 sxheld; in a slit in: the same platform 9 to-awhich the... cooperatinglever 24ris' ful;v

crumed. The outer portion 26 of said leveris bei'itto extend down over the edgeof-"th'e" platform, and its terminal 27 is bent or directed toward the front of the trap, lying normally in a horizontal position and resting normally on the upper end of a detent rod 28 fixed rigidly to the upper front frame-bar 29 which is shown as cut away to permit of this arrangement. A doubleended tripping-platform 30 is suitably secured at its midlength to the arm 23 of each lever 24. 31 indicates a bait-holder secured to the platform 30.

32, 32 denote the ends of a housing, each end being cut away to provide an opening 37 through which the rodent may enter. 33 denotes a housing-top secured on said ends and to the top 3, and 34 indicates a lid hinged to the top 33. proaches 35 may be provided.

The operation: Smelling the lure in the pan 31 the animal in seeking to reach it rate teaoet. 23,1917. Applicatiomfile'd April 21, 19117:: SeriaIlN .:-163;?50.

Any suitable apopenings 37 and step onto one of the rotatable platforms 9. These however are temporarily held from rotation by reason of the end 27 of the trippingdever resting on the detent 28. As the animal approaches the bait he must step onto the adjacent elevated end of the tripping-platform and thereby depress it, and as the trippingplatform is fixed to the tripping-lever it will rock it and thereby cause the leverterminal to rock off from the detent 28. This releases the trip-wheel. The weight of the animal will of course cause it to rotate, for the oppositely arranged platform 9 acts as a counterweight for the one on which the animal is standing. This rotation of the trip-wheel ordinarily is sufficiently rapid to throw the animal down into the holder 2, but in order that he may not to move with accelerated rapidity. It will make only a one-fourth rotation, for when it has moved to that extent the next oncoming tripping-lever terminal 27 will strike upon and be stopped by the detent 28.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of this construction without departing from the spirit of my invention. Therefore I do not intend to limit myself to the specific form shown and described except as pointed out in the following claim, in which it is my intention to claim as broadly as is permitted by the state of the art all the novelty inherent in the invention.

I claim as new:

In a trap, a receptacle having an opening in its top, a trip-wheel rotatably mounted in said opening and comprising a plurality of radially arranged platforms each of which is adapted to close said opening, rocking-levers fulcrumed one on each platform, tripping-platforms secured one to each lever and adapted to rock it, blade-springs secured one to each radially arranged platform and standing parallel with an adjacent radially arranged platform, the end of each spring secured to the tripping-lever, and a detent secured to the receptacle,'an end portion of any one of said levers adapted to strike upon and be detained by the end of the detent. 1

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 16th day of April, 1917.

ERNEST L. NEUNEKER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G. 

